Synthesis of the Garden of Eden and How the World Was Made
It is impossible to devise a scientific experiment to describe the creation process, or
even to ascertain whether such a process can take place ~ Henrey M. Morrise There are thousands of explanations for why and how humans and the world as we now it came to exist, however none have be proven to date. Nonetheless, most share major characteristics that have contributed to present day society. The Christian interpretation of the creation of the earth is illustrated in The Garden of Eden, in which God creates earth. The Aboriginal view of the creation is seen in the story How the World was Made where Maheo, the god, relies on the animals to help build the earth. There are many key differences between the Garden of Eden and the Cheyenne story but there are also important similarities. There are clear similarities shared between the Christian creation story and the Aboriginal creation story. Both Creators show empathy towards humans. For example, in the Cheyenne story, Maheo creates humans and earth to fill the void. After he creates earth, Maheo makes man by reach[ing] into his right side and pull[ing] out a rib bone [it] stirred, stood upright and walked. However, Maheo felt sympathy for his loneliness, hence Maheo makes woman;She should not be alone This characteristic is also shared in The Garden of Eden, where God is also compassionate for the loneliness of man. This sympathy is shown when he tells Adam, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet. Both of the gods empathies can be derived from the fact that they were both trying to fill a void. Specifically, In the beginning there was nothing, and Maheo, the All Spirit, lived in the void there was only Maheo, alone in nothingness. Furthermore, in the Christian story it also begins with an empty void, The earth was without form, and void; and darkness. These quotes show that in both formations of the earth, the gods feel empathy towards their creations which can be linked to the voids they were both trying to fill. There are many crucial similarities between both stories demonstrating that there are common sentiments such as empathy, compassion and sympathy between beliefs and religions.
Granted there are similarities, there are also key differences. For instance, in The Garden of Eden, God is the creator of everything, The lord God made the earth and heavens, and every plant of the field. Contradictory to this, Maheo is only able to create four things the water, light, the sky and the people of the water. In order to create the rest of the earth Maheo relies on the animals such as the coot and grandmother turtle. Now I must have help for my Powers will only let me make four things by myself, Maheo explained to the animals. Their differences persists when both gods are challenged with the failure of the new creation. When Adam and Eve are warned not to eat from the tree of life, they are tempted by the snake. Finally, Eve curiously eats the fruit and gives it to Adam. When the Lord returns to the Garden he realizes what they have done and gives them harsh punishment. Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest eat? I did eat So he drove out the man, and man was forever baned from the tree of life and the Garden of Eden. Contradictory to this, Maheo gives his creations second chances. When the coot believes he cant dive, Maheo says, No man can do more than his best Certainly you shall try. Maheo demonstrates a more forgiving attitude when his beings meet failure, whereas God lashes out and bans them from paradise letting his creations suffer as punishment for generations. In conclusion, The Garden of Eden and the story How the World Was Made share numerous parallels and contrasts. They equally share the sentiments of empathy, compassion and sympathy as well as both gods crave to fill an empty void with earth and its inhabitants. However, they demonstrate fundamental differences such as their capabilities, their forgivingness and their punishments. Both of these stories are beliefs from different religions and their teachings can be seen in present day societies. They equally have affected the way humanity sees failure and how humans show their emotions. While these are only two theories, there are more than ninety five documented stories and many more shaping cultures today.